Non-verbal communication is the most intimate strategy of sharing information since it focuses on in-depth understanding and reaction to a specific situation. Examples of non-verbal communication include maintaining eye contact, body language, empathetic and sympathetic listening (Mokhtari, 2013). Cognition and Behavior Role-Playing systems may alter this communication system since this information exchange system helps distinguish authentic interaction from pretense (Lawrence, 2017). Three concepts explicitly explain non-verbal communication, including the exclusion of body language as a communication concept, the issue of emotions and the spatial zone factors.
There are various modes of non-verbal communication, including gestures and posture. However, new research such as those conducted in “The puzzle of non-verbal communication: Towards a new aspect of leadership” has created a new translation into the meaning of non-spoken information (Lawrence, 2017). For instance, the study reveals that body language may not entirely be a non-verbal communication system. This fact is interesting considering that it is the first clue to determine the type of audience given to a specific non-verbal interaction (Mokhtari, 2013). Therefore, body language is an integral indicator of authentic interaction since movements can help ascertain intentions.
When communicating with an individual from a different culture, body language can provide a picture of their beliefs and practices. For instance, while professing love, a non-native English speaker may buy flowers to make their intentions known (Lawrence, 2017). However, body language as a non-verbal expression may be prone to misunderstanding and conflict, especially when the parties do not observe cultural competence requirements. This factor indicates that body language is unreliable as a non-verbal system of communication.
Another concept in non-verbal communication is emotions which enable people to express their subliminal and conscious information. This expression strategy is integral since it helps to demonstrate sympathetic and empathetic listening skills through active engagement (Lawrence, 2017). Therefore, showcasing one’s feelings towards an issue is important in communication. Moreover, it enables the speaker to express their concern and interest in providing the assistance needed. Therefore, actions such as sympathetic listening can help show emotions in non-verbal communication.
Mind can perceive information by assessing the various speech dimensions focusing on unity. Any signals that do not align with the dimensions of non-verbal communication, such as peri-verbal, para verbal, infra-verbal, supra-verbal, and pre-verbal cues, indicate a disconnection with the behavior displayed (Mokhtari, 2013). For example, emotions are a pre-verbal dimension that helps give insights into a person’s true intentions. This deduction is informative since it argues that all the dimensions must align to prove cognition and behavior. This factor is interesting considering that some people may want to express their emotions during an interaction.
On the other hand, other dimensions such as the non-verbal cues may affect this communication style, especially when actions do not align with the emotions displayed (Lawrence, 2017). For example, a simple mistake such as bright colored dressing to a conservative funeral may invalidate the emotions displayed since the two do not align properly (Burgoon et al., 2021). This fact is exciting considering that it streamlines back to the basic etiquettes of effective communication.
The other important consideration is the special zone factors, including close intimate, relational, personal, social and public zones that focus on the different communication spectrums. Specific distance zones indicate the intensity of the relationship between parties. All those zones can be influenced by culture since the diverse communities have distinct beliefs which may impact communication. For example, close intimate zones may be between 0 and 15 centimeters (Mokhtari, 2013). On the other hand, distant relations such as those in the public spectrum can be 3.6 or more since the connection or relation is weak (Mokhtari, 2013). This concept is relatable in daily interactions, considering it is a somatosensory action that occurs automatically.
When approached with a stranger, the first action will be to step backwards in two steps, ensuring that a security distance is maintained during the interaction. Such actions include the brain’s response to unfamiliar situations considering it also devises a defense mechanism to ensure that everyone is protected when conversing (Burgoon et al., 2021). The distance keeps reducing when interacting with familiar people. For instance, best friends can hug when they meet as a greeting signal (Burgoon et al., 2021). The distance when we are hugging is zero indicating that the connection is strong.
The theory of spatial zone is accurate considering that it proves that the distance during communication reveals the relationship between two parties. However, some situations can affect its functionalism or viability. For instance, when people are stressed, they forget the interaction rules such as hugging as a greeting sign. This factor indicates that some environmental factors can result in special fluctuations in spatial zones (Mokhtari, 2013). On the other hand, communication is free within the close intimate zone since it may not follow a specific pattern or strategy since it involves automatic signals.
Another zone is the intimate zone, which also follows the intimate strategy since interactions at this stage are private, indicating high levels of closeness (Burgoon et al., 2021). An interesting zone is a social zone structured to follow formal communication rules, including respect, focus, and clarity. Therefore, the intimate zones justify the authenticity of the spatial system theory in addressing non-verbal communication systems by revealing that behavior and thoughts can manipulate the structures.
Although non-verbal communication focuses on transmitting expressive signals, it is influenced by various rules, including body language, emotions and spatial zone factors. The first response strategy is body language since it enables one to express their thoughts. Through body language, parties can determine one another’s feeling towards a particular issue. Another non-verbal expression strategy is emotions which enable people to showcase their satisfactions and dissatisfactions. The spatial zones determine how people interact by ensuring that interaction norms are observed with strangers, friends or family members.
References
Burgoon, J. K., Manusov, V., & Guerrero, L. K. (2021). Nonverbal communication. Routledge.
Lawrence, S. (2017). The power of nonverbal communication. Center for Adult and Regional Education. Web.
Mokhtari, M. (2013). The puzzle of non-verbal communication: Towards a new aspect of leadership. (PDF document).